Chapter 509 – Possible Past
*** Alzi, Main Body ***
You would think being stuck with Yzzorres for hours every day would force us to talk, but she's skilled at ignoring everyone and everything around her. I've thought about stabbing her just so she would do something in reaction to it, but that'is a bit extreme. But the wound would hardly do anything, and I could heal it in less than a second, so it's not a completely insane idea, just mostly. We are surrounded by fragile eggs.
But Yzzorres couldn't ignore the first crack, or any of the ones after it. She has her motherly instincts, after all; if she didn't, I wouldn't be stuck in her bed.
"Are they going to be ok?" Yzzorres asks.
"Yes, I've been through something similar with Zarzi," I say. "And Elo's eggs have started hatching as well. Your kids aren't going to be any different. Just watch, and when they get close enough, I'll finish cracking them open and bring them to you."
"Ok," Yzzorres says, eyeing the eggs in the circle around her bed.
"Since I have your attention," I say. "You're not going to be sleeping so much, since you have to help me raise the kids. I'll drag Dragon down here to whip you into shape if I have to."
"But..."
"No, I don't think so," I say. "You're going to be awake, and you're going to love it. Now, do your best to remain calm. It's kind of nice that dragons don't have excruciating pain while their children come into the world. Don't throw that all away by sleeping or something." I wonder if my kids with Yzzorres will be eggs or live births. I'll also have to drag Yzzorres into my bed when it's time. Hopefully, she's ok with changing into her humanoid form. My bed is big, but it's also full.
"I'm not about to sleep!" Yzzorres says.
"Good," I say. There's nothing to do but wander around the circle, making sure the kids can get out of their eggs.
...
"Is that the last of them?" Yzzorres asks.
"Yes," I say. "You know the count you demanded, and you know how many I've moved over here."
"They're small."
"Yes," I say. "That is how babies work. If you came around and visited more, you would know that. In fact, you should know this from your very long life."
"They're weak."
"Just like you were," I say. "You were weak for a long time, based on your story."
"Will they make it?"
"Yes," I say, again. Well, I'm starting to think I won't have to force her to stay awake. But I may have to force her to give the kids room to grow.
At least she cares about them.
"What should I do?" Yzzorres asks.
"Keep them warm and safe for a bit," I say. "We don't have nipples in our dragon form, so I'm guessing they don't drink milk."
"No, straight to meat," Yzzorres says.
Oh, so she does know something about children. "Well, I'll have some brought up. Raw, I'm guessing?"
"Of course," Yzzorres says. "But I'll go hunting for it."
"No, you're staying here," I say. "I went hunting and managed to grab us plenty of food already. Or at least we can think of it that way. I'm not about to let you run off to get meat and never come back, leaving your newborns and pregnant mate behind."
"But..."
"You can do that in a year or so," I say. That should be enough time to force her to bond with the kids. Not that I think she is really about to run off, but people snap. "For now, the entire family is going to work on helping us raise the kids. Remember, you'll have to be thrown into my bed after my pregnancy. Now, we have names to pick out."
"Ok," Yzzorres says. "Names."
I know that feeling. I feel like I'm going to have to start reusing names soon, with how many kids I have on the way. But Yzzorres should have plenty of names to choose from. Or do dragonkin share the same set of names as dragons? That could make this a bit more difficult.
...
At least once a week, a maid, wife, kitsune, myself, concubine, servant, or slave gives birth to a kid, and we work on how the parenting will be handled. It is a complex system with all the people involved, but this newest one is a bit different.
"You're helping me," I say, as I always do. Well, most know and want to help raise the kids. It's kind of hard to tell an Empress they're going to do all the work.
"No, I'm not leaving here," the World says.
"Yes, you are," I say, but the World is a different beast.
"No, you can't make me," the World says.
She's acting like she isn't even in labor! What the fuck is wrong with this bitch? Just raise your damn kids!
"Don't call me a bitch," the World says. "But I'm not leaving. If you insist on having my help, well, then we can schedule times for me to bring them up here."
"Are you going to get out of bed to play with the kids when they come up here?" I ask.
"I will."
"Do you promise?" I ask. Contract should be able to enforce this promise.
"Yes."
"Good, now how are you doing this so easily?" I ask.
"I'm the World," the World says. "How could I not do it easily? I'm absolutely massive, and the babies are tiny."
"This body isn't massive, but fine," I say. "You're looking better."
"I do feel better," the World says. "I may need a bit more help."
"With?" I ask.
"I want to bring about another Goddess, but I have enough poison in my body that if I do it the normal way, it will be a demon instead."
"Fine, but don't blame me if it turns into triplets," I sigh. "And not while the kids are around."
"Ah, yes, that is a good catch," the World says. "Is that all?"
"Unless you're hiding something else," I say. I should get her to change this wooden cabin a bit. Add a few chairs, a place to run around for the kids, and a bigger bed so the kids can pile in if they have nightmares. Also, a few windows to see whatever is outside.
"I'll work on it," the World says. "Now, here comes the kids."
If I'm not able to do this when I'm a Goddess, I'm going to lock the World and Fertility in a room until they help me do this somehow. I'm tired of having difficult labors, and I know I have plenty more ahead of me. I doubt I'm going to be chaste as a Goddess, and well, things happen, and I don't see my womb becoming any less fertile as the Goddess of Life, or even Mothers.
The first slides out, and is the demoness. A cutie with a pitch-black fuzz of hair. I pick her up and wait for the Goddess to slide out unnaturally easily. "Yes, it's not fair," I say. "Your sister is not going to have an easy time giving birth, nor your father. Nor you, if you have any kids."
"You don't have to complain so much," the World says before the Goddess joins us in the simple room.
I move to pick her up as well, and the world changes around me.
My old home manifests around me, with Mommy standing in the doorway while someone in shining armor stands outside.
"May I come in?" the warrior asks.
"Yes, Your Highness," Mommy says, her voice wavering as she steps back.
Is that Elora? What is happening? And why is Mommy holding a rainbow dragonkin...
Someone got part of their wish, it seems.
"Is there a good place to talk for a bit?" Elora asks.
"My home..."
"I just need a chair," Elora says. "Something comfortable. I know you have just given birth, and I'm sorry to intrude at such a time, but this is important for the Queendom and your child."
"This way, then, Your Highness," Mommy says, leading Elora to our little living room. "This is the best I have."
"This is more than enough," Elora says, choosing to stretch out on the couch. I guess her armor is making it difficult to sit normally. "Thank you. Please, take a seat yourself."
Mommy sits in her favorite chair, cradling me close to her chest.
"Now, to start with something you must be wondering about," Elora says. "Your child is a Champion. That is why she is so colorful and gives off a glow. We're still working out which Goddess, but the temple confirmed that a Champion was born in this village. I understand if you don't want to answer this question, but it is important. Who is the father?"
"Why would my child be a Champion?" Mommy asks. "Your Highness."
"The Goddesses decide these things," Elora says. "The father."
"I don't know him," Mommy says. "He just was here, and then left."
"A description would be nice," Elora says.
"Are you going to take my child away from me?" Mommy asks.
"It is normally best that way," Elora says. "But you don't have the normal problems the Mothers of Champions usually have."
"I'm not leaving her side," Mommy says. "I'm not losing her. She's all I have now. My family doesn't care for me; her father ran off the second the deed was done. I don't have anything left but her. You can't steal her from me."
"We aren't here to steal a child," Elora says. "Just to bring a Champion back to the capital. Are you going to come willingly? Please, she'll grow much stronger and be far safer in the capital than she could be here. You'll join us. You don't have the family issues others normally have."
Wait, is Elora stealing me from my Mother? Elora was hoping to raise me to be obsessed with her instead of MOMMY! Elora, your ass is mine when I get back home. Naughty girl.
"I have to be her Mother," Mommy says.
YES! Put the idiot in her place.
"You will be," Elora says. "You will be. But she's going to have a lot of lessons. She has a lot to learn."
NO! Mommy, save me. Don't let her force me into those terrible lessons.
"Ok, as long as I can still be her Mother and she'll be safe," Mommy says. "She will be safe, right?"
Probably not, if the real timeline is anything to go by. Maybe Elora hasn't been hit on the head as much in this timeline or something.
"Yes, I'll be personally in charge of keeping her safe," Elora says. "Let's go."
Well, so much for keeping me safe.
"Ok, Your Highness," Mommy says, her eyes going wide, remembering that she wasn't using Elora's title for most of the conversation.
Good job, Mommy. Elora isn't worth her title right now.
The world warps around me again, and this time, I'm at a manor that is similar to the one Elora had when I was first married to her. She lied to Mommy, she didn't take me to the capital! But I see timeline me running through the fields with Mommy chasing after me, so I'll forgive her for the little lie.
Mommy is so beautiful.
The world warps again, and I'm in Fertility's temple now. Elora is standing next to my Mother as timeline me kneels before the stupid altar.
Then that version of me stands up and shouts, "I'm a healer!"
"Oh, I knew you would be, my baby," Mommy says, opening her arms for a hug.
Timeline me runs into her arms, sobbing and whispering 'I love you' over and over, and Elora even dares to join our hug. But then Queen Yumanea comes storming in.
"So, you have been hiding the Champion," Yumanea says.
"I've protected her from the many that have wished to kill or hurt her," Elora says. "I didn't trust you to protect her from the dragons. I raised her as any Champion would normally be, and she has her first class now. I'll continue to help her grow."
"Please, Your Royal Highness," timeline me says. "I wish to stay with her."
Elora was a romantic in this timeline, it seems. I wonder how much else is different. Was this the next most likely timeline, or the best possible one?
The High Priestess steps forward with her fake belly. "Our Champion has shared her wishes. I hope you don't go against our Goddess."
"Very well. Don't mess this up, Elora," Yumanea says.
The world warps once again. Mommy and I are sharing a room, both in labor, and Elora waddles in, ready to pop herself, wearing the crown for some reason. I also spot Mai, Ilka, and Akhae, hiding in the doorway.
Did Elora take me to a brothel for my birthday, and did I buy Mai? Should I forgive her for seducing little me in this timeline for that?
Whatever, I'm happy here, so I won't punish her.
The World's room appears around me again, and Past looks half-dead.
"She's fine, just tired," the World says. "Sorry, I'll pull you all up in a bit for my time being a parent. Good luck."
*** Fertility ***
"Why does Alzi have Past and a new demoness in her arms?" I ask.
"Because it's Alzi," Sea says. "Let her have her secrets. It's what makes these times so fun."
"I don't like secrets," I say. "You just want to get in my pants."
"Stop worrying about your Champion," Sea says. "I want to be with you. Alzi can do whatever she wants as long as she doesn't destroy the world. She's done more for the world in a few months than we have in centuries, so let her live a little."
"Fine."